About Us
"Claret"
The term Claret dates back to 16th century England, where it was used to describe the red wines of Bordeaux. We chose this name for our company as a nod to our traditional British roots and to celebrate our focus of curating the greatest wine from France and beyond.
Our History
CLARETS was established in 1992 in Santa Barbara, California, with a dedication to curating and supplying the world's finest rare wines to discerning clients across the globe.
Originally founded as CLARETS & The Port Authority, a large part of our business was Vintage Port, a highly sought-after wine in the U.S. at the time. As Port's popularity gradually declined, we eventually shortened our name to CLARETS.
While Classified Growth Bordeaux has always been our foundation (after all, it’s in our name), we have a keen focus on the esteemed wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. We take pride in being one of the largest stockholders of DRC in the country. Additionally, we maintain significant stocks of California’s Cult wines, which we have offered since their surge in popularity in the early to mid-90s.
Our main focus is domestic private collectors. But we have many clients abroad and can help arrange export and international transportation.
In addition, we are proud to sell to Forbes 5 Star Properties, Michelin Starred restaurants, and Wine Spectator Award Winning restaurants.
The majority of our inventory is stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country, ensuring optimal storage conditions for every bottle.
At CLARETS, we are committed to providing exceptional service and maintaining the highest standards in wine quality to meet your needs, no matter how complex.
Founder and Director
Richard Torin
Our founder, Richard Torin, an Oxford Law graduate, chose the pleasures of the grape over a lifetime of lawyering. Over the past three decades, Richard has traveled non-stop, building longstanding personal relationships with both our Clientele and Suppliers alike worldwide.
Director of Sales
Dennis Bohlke
Dennis Bohlke, our Sales Director since 1997, brings a wealth of experience and an exceptional eye for quality. He meticulously oversees the rigorous inspection process that each bottle undergoes upon arrival at our warehouse, ensuring that only the best wines make it to our clients.
Director of Purchasing
Christopher Diehl
In 2021, Christopher Diehl joined our team as a Buyer after stints of working in the wine business in Canada, Portugal, London and New York City. His experience has expanded our purchasing capabilities, allowing us to source the rarest and most exquisite wines for our customers.
